One afternoon Kamdyn Piland returned from school with tears in his eyes. His parents were eager to know what happened but their second-grader son refused to answer. They continued questioning him until he finally revealed a note from his teacher. What was written on it?
Unhelpful Piece Of Criticism
Chris soon realized that this was not a beneficial note. On the contrary, his teacher was attacking his son. Chris had no intention of letting this go easily.
Unhelpful Piece Of Criticism
A Regular Kid
Chris described his son Kamdyn as a regular young boy. He wasn’t particularly hyper or involved in watching television, playing video games, or even eating junk food. He was always on good behavior and it was so surprising when he saw this piece of criticism.
A Regular Kid
Something Serious
As soon as Chris read the note written on his son’s homework, he started to think that something bigger was going on at school. He decided that what he needed to do was look into it more further. What do you think he found?
Something Serious
A Regular School
Kamdyn is a second grader studying at Valley View Elementary School. It was a normal public school in the area. Chris knew his son was not really an overachiever.
A Regular School
Many Complaints
Despite this, Kamdyn’s parents never suspected something off at school. They never heard something was going on but as the year went on the complaints started to continue regarding Kamdyn.
Many Complaints
Good At School
It is quite normal for children to avoid doing their homework and actually hate it. However, Kamdyns problems surfaced when he moved on to the second grade.
Good At School
He Couldn’t Just Watch
Chris was not willing to watch his young boy struggle at school. He felt it was his duty to try and make the situation better for him. First things first was that he needed to find out what the problem was.
He Couldn’t Just Watch
Struggling In School
Kamdyn was not exceptionally bright but he was also not a dumb boy. His father noticed that he was having quite a hard time. His grades were slacking and this was particularly out of character for Kamdyn.
Struggling In School
Way Too Harsh
Suddenly was the day that we are all here for. Kamdyn came home with his homework that had horrible criticism from his teacher. There, Chris read a comment from Alyssa Rupp Bohenek that said, “Absolutely pathetic! He answered 13 in 3 minutes! Sad!”
Way Too Harsh
Ms. Alyssa
Alyssa was working at the school for a long time by that point and people knew that she was quite difficult. Clearly things were not going smoothly between her and young Kamdyn.
Ms. Alyssa
His Teacher
Alyssa watched Kamdyn closely and every time he did something she would have something to say. In the end, she was harming his self-esteem and failing to do anything helpful.
His Teacher
Addressing Bad Grades
It is indeed hard for parents to hear that their kids are not succeeding at school. Either way, when there is an issue it is important to work it out right away. This could lead to an argument…
Addressing Bad Grades
Tough Love
Sometimes kids must spend extra time on their homework and receive help from their teachers or elders. We have seen that the concept of “tough love” does not usually do any good.
Tough Love
Constructive Criticism Please
Nobody likes to receive negative feedback, even adults. However, negative feedback is helpful in the form of constructive criticism. This is something we can all learn from and help us in the future.
Constructive Criticism Please
A Huge Blow
It is never fun to receive criticism for no reason. In these cases, self-confidence is usually harmed. We do not doubt that what Alyssa wrote was painful for young Kamdyn.
A Huge Blow
As A Mentor
Being a mentor or role model is not an easy job. However, if you assume this role than it is your responsibility to set a good example. A teacher must create a lesson plan, but must also deliver so much more.
As A Mentor
A Leader
Teachers have to be good leaders and leave beneficial impacts on their students. Clearly, Bohenek was not doing a good job if her student was coming home in tears.
A Leader
Not Helpful Whatsoever
We think that anyone in Chris’s situation would also react this way. The way that his teacher handled the situation was completely out of line. If she had something to say, she could have chosen a different approach.
Not Helpful Whatsoever
Only Made Things Worse
Chris was hopeful for his son to succeed in school. He knew that this kind of criticism would worsen the situation and make things much more difficult for Kamdyn.
Only Made Things Worse
A Recurring Problem
Likely, this is not the only harsh comment that Bohenek ever wrote. Chris made it a big deal because he knew this was not the situation. The teacher was responsible for doing this all year.
A Recurring Problem
Far Too Personal
For Chris, Alyssa’s criticism was getting too personal. He wouldn’t have cared if it were justified but the common was completely uncalled for. At this point, Chris decided it was time to talk to Bohenek.
Far Too Personal
Took To Facebook
We truly can not believe that a teacher would call her student “pathetic.” Nobody should ever call someone like this but especially a teacher! This was the person that parents were trusting with their kids?
Took To Facebook
Payback
Chris was enraged and wanted revenge and decided to post the story online. He was determined for everyone to read what she did and get justice for his son.
Payback
His Viral Post
Chris carefully explained everything that happened and attached a picture of Kamdyn with the note. The story quickly went viral and many people were eager to see the result.
His Viral Post
Everyone Disapproved
There was a consensus that the teacher was wrong and shouldn’t have used such harsh words. Chris felt like she was personally attacking his son, and for what reason?
Everyone Disapproved
Her Responsibility
Not only should a teacher provide well thought out lesson plans and track the progress of their students, but they also have to motivate with their profession and be a role model to their students.
Her Responsibility
The Harsh Comments
While it is clearly difficult to help children succeed, writing harsh comments was not going to help anyone. Kamdyn was eager to learn and this remark would only cause damage.
The Harsh Comments
How Learning Should Be
Growing into a well-rounded person includes receiving a thorough education. We all can succeed as long as we have the right skills, abilities, and tasks. They are all equally important.
How Learning Should Be
No One Likes Negativity
Not only is learning these skills essential but also the way that we learn them is equally important. Teaching in a creative and motivating way can really go along way. While negativity only leads to discouragement.
No One Likes Negativity
Launching A Petition
Chris decided to post on Facebook and then leave it at that. However, the story was booming and the people online were not willing to let it go. As a result, someone formed a petition to get Bohenek fired.
Launching A Petition
Rallying Behind Him
Chris was overwhelmed by the amount of support he and his son received. He never thought that he would get such recognition. This really touched his heart.
Rallying Behind Him
Endangering Her Career
What began as an innocent petition lead to something more severe. Bohenek had to go into defense mode to avoid getting fired. Chris was so angry that he actually wanted her to lose her job.
Endangering Her Career
The Line Has Been Drawn
In certain situations there comes a time were enuough is enough. Here it seems that Kamdyn and the other students may have been better off if Bohenek got fired.
The Line Has Been Drawn
Teaching How To Learn
Teachers must convey the class material to their students in a way that they can process it positively and stay motivated. It is the teachers’ job to portray a joy for learning.
Teaching How To Learn
Processing Improves
If you do this, then everything else will follow. Students will learn faster and more efficiently. There is absolutely no need for negativity because everyone learns at their own speed.
Processing Improves
In Response
The petition created on behalf of Kamdyn reached 10,000 signatures. On the other hand, Bohenek also got sveerla supporters, teachers who said that this was too extreme.
In Response
Reaction
When Chris asked Kamdyn what he felt he said, “She made me really sad and upset. I was really mad. And [it was] really mean to do.’ Wow, poor kid!
Reaction
Seven-Year-Old
Chris spoke to media outlets and explained that what Bohenek did was not okay. He said, “You don’t write that on anybody’s paper, let alone a little 7-year-old, second grader’s paper. It said on the top of it that he answered only 13 of them in 3 minutes and that it was absolutely pathetic with a sad face.” This broke both Chris and Kamdyn’s hearts.
Seven Year Old
Unprofessional
Chris could go on a rant about the matter. He was enraged for his son and also felt that comment was completely unprofessional and plain rude. Wait till you hear Alyssa’s response… she said sorry Chris was feeling this reaction.
Unprofessional
Punished Not Fired
It was decided by everyone that such an action was truly traumatizing for a young boy. However, some felt like firing was too severe but still wanted to see her get in trouble.
Punished Not Fired
Update
After the hard work from the petition, Chris announced that the teacher would be investigated by the school board. They agreed to cooperate and look into the matter to a great extent to get to the bottom of it.
Update
Superintendent
The school superintendent, Rose minnity soon learned of the comment writen. She immediately called Bohenek in for a meeting in her office to discuss the sitaution.
Superintendent
What’s Best
Minniti put out a statement an said, “As always with everything, we’re going to try to do what’s best for the students and what we need to do for the employee under investigation.” She then said, “It’s a personnel issue and the results of that are not going to be dictated by social media. It’s going to be dictated by the facts and evidence.”
What’s Best
Personnel Issue
Hopefully, something beneficial came out of this situation and nothing like this would happen again to any students. People worldwide were tuning in to the story, hoping to get Bohenek fired.
Personnel Issue
Some Blamed Him
Others who agreed with Bohenek have also started to blame Chris. They say that he is a bad parent and it is is a fault. They also add that he should not be on social media and instead focus on being a better parent.
Some Blamed Him
Helping With Homework
They say that none of this would have happened if Chris was there to help his son with his work. However, this is not most of the opinion regarding the situation. Many can agree that Bochenek is completely unjust.
Helping With Homework
Training The Teachers
Education has forever been a controversial discussion. It is said that teachers should be carefully watched to ensure that they are fostering young learners properly and doing their job the best that they can.
Training The Teachers
Teaching Styles
They must be fulfilling their roles the most that they can and create well throughout lessons. Their student’s grades can show that they are doing a good job, but the way they teach is also important.
Teaching Styles
Teaching The Teachers
After Chris posted the story, many people broke into a debate. Some said that teachers need to have someone guiding them as well, and many teachers are not right to be teachers.
Teaching The Teachers
They Need Mentoring
Each student learns in their way with their unique learning style. Teachers must be equipped to shape their teaching methods based on student’s difficulty or processing style. This is their duty as a teacher.
They Need Mentoring
Becoming A Mother
Many people followed the story and they learned that Bohenek became pregnant. She was an expectant mother, and this may have explained why she was acting particularly temperamental.
Becoming A Mother
Finding Some Inspiration
If we got one thing out of this story it can be this. What do you think Bohenek would do if she were in Chris’s shoes? Do you think she would have acted the same way? Hopefully can be a more inspiring teacher rather.
Finding Some Inspiration
A Creative Approach
Teachers need to be fully motivated and inspired to perform their job to the best of their ability. Even when they’re feeling off, they can’t take this to the classroom. Teachers need to be fully inspired to set an example for their students.
A Creative Approach
A Great Teacher
This is exactly why teachers need to always demonstrate a good attitude. There are teachers who also have creative tactics up their sleeves to assist students who don’t grasp the material as fast. Teachers like this are quite special!
A Great Teacher
Children Are The Future
Now that we’re thinking about it, maybe this was the issue altogether. Teachers have to be in the appropriate state of mind when they are inside the classroom but also outside. They have the largest impact on young children’s growth.
Children Are The Future
The Lesson
Hopefully, you had the chance to have an inspiring teacher throughout your life. This kind of teacher can really make a difference, and change your entire perspective on school and learning in general.
The Lesson
Extra Attention
Sometimes students need an extra push and that’s what Bohenek should have resorted to. Harsh criticism never does any good, especially to young children. Come one, you know we’re right.
Extra Attention
Important Lesson
After everything,we have certainly learned a valuable lesson. Teachers are expected to maintain a certain behavior and etiquette, but they are humans also and sometimes they have an off day, we all do.
Important Lesson
Mistakes
All people make mistakes, we can’t forget that. But it is the parent’s responsibility to make sure you’re children are on top of their schoolwork. Setting aside some time to help your students may be the most important asset you can provide.
Mistakes
Bully
Overall, many people had something to say about the teacher. “A teacher bullied […] a second-grader,” Peckville resident Beth O’Brien said, “I think they should be fired.” Some were extreme, others were less.
Bully
Shouldn’t Happen
Chris intended to get support for his son. He was not expecting to get her fired. He switched Kamdyns class and “It’s something that shouldn’t happen and shouldn’t be tolerated at all.”
Shouldn’t Happen
Taken Seriously
More so, he hopes with his situation and he can make people extra alert to these kinds of instances. “Maybe it’ll be taken seriously now and it’ll keep it from happening to other teachers and other students.”
Taken Seriously
Comments
People from around the world were eager to respond. This person named Yvonne, was equally enraged when she learned of this story. She fully supports the proposition for Bohenek to be removed from her career.
Comments
Ill Spirited
Wherever you go you will find people who are unkind for no reason at all. Especially on social media. This man chose to remark on Kamdyn’s math ability, completely missing the point of the entire story.
Ill Spirited
Not Bad
However, another Facebook user named Rose agreed with Chris, similarly to other users. She actually said that Kamdyn did a good job of answering 13 questions in 3 minutes! We aren’t sure if we could do that!
Not Bad
Strong Words
Others felt entitled to express their opinion openly and felt no sensitivity when doing so, these people were truly outraged by the incident. This is totally understandable, in today’s day and age people can say whatever they like via social media. Erona White took commented on Facebook how she thought that Alyssa was undeserving of being a teacher. She further addressed how it is a teacher’s duty to encourage and support children whereas Alyssa had completely degraded a student, who was just a child!
Strong Words
Personal
Some pointed out good points and truly unpacked the incident, it was becoming a deep topic of conversation. Margaret wrote that the father, Chris brought up that the teacher had been disrespectful and dismissive the whole year, the question arose with as to why? The incident now seems more of an isolated and somewhat sensitive topic for the teacher, was this personal? Why would this teacher go to such extremities to humiliate and be rude to a child?
Personal
Apologetic
Brittney on the other hand had developed a feeling of sorrow and pity for poor Kamdyn. After all, he was the one who had been most affected by the situation. Brittney agreed with the others in saying that Alyssa should drop it, and that as a teacher a fundamental part of her work is to support and motivate students- not allow them to feel degraded or lack self-confidence.
Apologetic
Arguments
Issues can easily take a turn for the worst on social media. Comments are available to the entire public, which means that the sharing commenting and abilities of the post to take a turn are extremely easy! Well, it was bound to happen with this controversial post- a complication occurred when Erin took to make her mark but it sparked a major reaction from tons of people. A debate had been set!
Arguments
Trauma
Sandra took a different approach one that involved removing Hayden from the situation,m which in fact is actually quite smart. She has a point. An incident like this can truly traumatize a child or somewhat hinder their education. Sandra suggested moving Kamdyn to a different class, to a teacher that will surely encourage him. The sooner the better to be honest, math is a very important subject and when something happens from the start it can truly negatively affect a child performance in the subject.
Trauma
Toughen Up
It is super interesting to see how many alternative opinions there are and how many different outlooks. David had some rather concise advice for the father: ” this world is not all rainbows and unicorns and second place is only first looser,” harsh David. Well, he thinks that this is a perfect example of a lifelong lesson, and will teach Kamdyn for the future. As much as it may and people will hurt him later on in life, is an incident with school and a school teacher the best way to spark such intense life lessons in a child?
Toughen Up
Pathetic
Another commenter, Lori, brought up how the wording was particularly harsh towards a child of Kamdyn’s age, or any child for that matter. The word “pathetic” in particular sparked outrage in many individuals, I mean it is not something two people call each other- let alone someone uses to describe a child. A harsh word that discouraged Kamdyn but hits rather hard even to the strongest of adults, this is the truth.
Pathetic
Still Employed
The outcome of the disagreement and the old scandal has not yet reached a conclusion, well no outcome was in fact found. After some searching on the school’s public website it is clearly seen that Bohenek is in fact still teaching at the institution. However, it is uncertain- it is very possible that she was given another chance and has changed since the whole ordeal. As an elementary school teacher,the school surely must have reprimanded her and should be keeping a close eye on her.
Still Employed
Tender Age
“Such a tender age to be scarred from this form of abuse. There are a lot of so-called ‘teachers’ that are working in schools that don’t care for children and aren’t fit to teach … Little to no training or love for the profession. I’m a former teacher and has taught for 20 years, I can truly see why many students and families are turning to homeschool and other non-traditional learning opportunities,” another lady wrote once reading the story.
Tender Age
Censor Thoughts
“I’m disgusted by this teacher’s actions and she should be fired if she doesn’t know how to censor her thoughts as well as promote the kids learning with positive feedback,” this individual could not simply believe that an elementary school teacher could act in such a manner. This was written in response and expresses the total shock that a teacher could behave in such a way. However, this was not all…
Censor Thoughts
Not The Only One
The issue that Kamdyn faced is not an uncommon one, in fact, it happens rather often across the globe. There are unbelievable things that occur daily across the globe, some of which we never hear about but with today’s age of social media, it is more likely that we will. This situation, in particular, happened to Karen Eubank’s child, the mother was totally distraught when this was brought to her attention, it could even be worse than Kamdy’s story…
Not The Only One
4th Grade
Kids complain, and often too. When Karen’s son complained about his teacher being mean it did not cross her mind to take it too seriously. After all he was only 9-years old and she assumed that it was just a normal complaint. Karen had just moved her so n to a new school so he most likely needed time to adjust to new rules and a new way of schooling overall. This is often the case when kids move schools at a young age- they simply need to adjust. She was wrong…
4th Grade
Another Reason
Karen also was a bit blindsided by the fact that children always say people are mean, especially in disciplinarian roles- it is just what they do. Children can call a teacher mean for the slightest thing such as asking them to be quiet, or asking them to finish their work- even reprimanding them for homework that is not done. This made the circumstances hard for Karen to realize and become aware of what had actually happened.
Another Reason
Not What She Thought
Well, as it turns out Karen had assumed wrong. She assumes that all was good and the teacher was most likely just doing her job and trying to keep order within the classroom. She did not for a second think the teacher could actually have been horrible to her son, it made no sense that a teacher would be mean to a child. It would soon come to her attention that she was in fact very wrong, the teacher had actually been mean and her son had every right to be sad.
Not What She Thought
Avoiding School
Karen had, of course, checked out the school before just enrolling her child in the institution. On her visit, she was satisfied with the school she really liked it. Her son on the other hand did not pick up the same vibe she did. From the get-go he did not want to go to school, he started to suddenly feel sick everyday. He would complain in the mornings and say he felt ill. However, it was when Karen fetched him from school she noticed that his mood was totally down and iffy.
Avoiding School
Adjusting
Karen tried to make sense of it all and quite frankly she could do so. She told herself that he was simply adapting and having a hard time getting used to his new school. Karen knew kids took time to adjust and so she thought he would be alright sooner rather than later. She kept encouraging him and waiting to see a change in his mood, she was certain it was all about time. However, as Halloween rolled around the truth would finally be uncovered…
Adjusting
The Truth
Karen decided to take a different approach, an intelligent one. She went to a child that was in a neighboring classroom and asked him how he was finding school, if he knew her son and a few loaded questions that she thought may unveil the truth. The young boy revealed the unexpected to Karen, he told her that he did not think her son was very happy nor that he could be very happy because of his teacher. Karen asked further and he explained how the teacher was constantly shouting at her son, he could hear from the classroom next door, that is just how bad the shouting was!
The Truth
Taking Action
Karen heard this and knew she had to take action, she would certainly challenge what had been happening at this school. Karen asked to meet with both the principal and the class teacher in order to get an understanding of what exactly the issue was. The teacher said that Karen’s son did not pay attention in class. The principal on the other hand decided to not act. Both the principal and the teacher said that they were worried about her child, this startled Karen and somewhat annoyed her.
Taking Action
Listening
Since both had said that he was having difficulty concentrating and paying the necessary attention, she decided she would take him to be evaluated by a professional. If this was true a psychological evaluation would uncover the truth. After he had undergone the necessary tests and completed the evaluation with the doctor they were able to reveal his results instantly. He had not one issue, he was problem-free despite their claims.
Listening
Resolving The Problem
Karen decided she would ask the other parents if they had heard or even experienced anything similar to what her child was going through. The other parents confessed that the teacher was never happy nor smiling now that they thought about it. Karen’s son explained how his teacher picked on him and bullied him. He explained that he does pay the necessary attention and listen however, he explained, ” but I look out the window because I’d rather look at trees and listen than look at her angry face.” Karen decided she would home school her son after this.
Resolving The Problem